Morocco's perfect places
The very best of Morocco, from its coastal resorts to its colourful cities
Chefchaouen, the blue city - © Jonathan Perugia/Time Out
By Time Out Editors
If the physical environment of Morocco has more than its fair share of beauty and drama, the built environment is equally entrancing and diverse. Some towns have a local colour: Marrakech is known as the red city (it’s more ochre really); Chefchaouen is blue. The past is written on the peaks and valleys of the Atlas Mountains in the form of abandoned earth-coloured kasbahs, or fortified palaces; and it’s very much present in the green-tiled roofs and intricate multicoloured mosaic tiling of medieval Fès. The restoration drive, now spreading throughout the country, is responsible for some of Morocco’s loveliest hotels, combining traditional aesthetics, artisanship and materials with modern comforts, as well as ensuring the future of historical monuments.
Almeln Valley and Tafroute
Rural idyll & small gem
Trekkers in the Anti Atlas have known about the relaxed, high-altitude town of Tafroute, as well as the landscape that surrounds it (cloud-capped peaks, deep valleys and gorges), for decades. The Almeln Valley is dotted with tiny, thriving villages, but Tafroute is something special, with its spectacular surroundings making it seem cosier and more welcoming than your average Moroccan town. The region is renowned for its almond harvests, which find their way into delicious couscous and tagines.
Stay at Hotel Les Amandiers (+212 28 80 00 08, www.hotel-lesamandiers.com).
Asilah
Coast
Today one of Morocco’s cosiest and charming coastal resorts, Asilah nonetheless possesses a swashbuckling history of Barbary pirates, Riffian rebels and battles on its 15th-century ramparts. The smart and busy Zallaka in the Ville Nouvelle is a hub of decent restaurants and seafront avenues, but you can still get a taste of the romantic past by walking through the Bab Bhar gate into the town’s incredibly well-preserved Medina. Casa Garcia (51 Avenue Moulay Hassan ben Mehdi, +212 39 41 74 65) is a small, genuinely beguiling restaurant that knows a lot about the town’s speciality food: fish.
Stay at Berbari (+212 62 58 80 13, www.berbari.com).
Casablanca
City & coast
Preconceptions of Casablanca are often wrong. Glamorous visions of Humphrey Bogart and intrigue in the kasbah bear little relation to this thoroughly modern metropolis. In many ways Casa, as everyone calls it, is more Marseille than Maghreb. This is the country’s economic powerhouse; the principal port, centre of finance, industry, commerce, media and manufacturing.
Detailed town planning and other large infrastructure projects by the French in the early 20th century have shaped the modern city. The resulting economic and property boom left a legacy of myriad 20th-century architectural styles, particularly art deco and its colonial spin-off, Mauresque. There are deco gems everywhere, not all of them well preserved.
In Casablanca today, residential boulevards that wouldn’t look out of place in Beverly Hills, along with chic French restaurants and chi-chi beach clubs, play host to Morocco’s wealthiest and most westernised people. And while the city’s seafront is dominated by the immensity of the Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca is also home to North Africa’s largest Jewish population, consisting mainly of well-off, middle-class Moroccans.
Stay at Hôtel Transatlantique (+212 22 29 45 51/29 52 04).
Chefchaouen
Small gem
Folded high in the inaccessible crags of the Rif Mountains, this remote hideaway has a bewitching, storybook atmosphere to match its fairytale history as a retreat for rebels and disguised European adventurers. Its ancient crafts and diverse cultural heritage have been perfectly preserved, along with its stone-walled streets and impressive Spanish mosque and Kasbah. Try to book a table at Casa Aladin (+212 39 98 90 17), which has a well-executed roll-call of rich and sticky tagines and couscous and a highly romantic atmosphere.
Stay at Casa Hassan (+212 39 98 61 53, www.casahassan.com).
Dadés Valley
Mountains
The Dadés Valley runs between the High Atlas to the north and the Jebel Sarho to the south. Sometimes called ‘the Valley of the Kasbahs’, dozens of fortress-cities litter the route as a reminder of the civilisation that once flourished here. It’s the most barren of the southern valleys, which makes palm-strewn oases like Skoura all the more beautiful, and dramatic, twisting gorges like Dadés and Todra all the more spectacular.
Stay at Les Jardins de Skoura (+212 24 85 23 24, www.lesjardinsdeskoura.com).
Fès
City
For many travellers, Fès still represents the ‘real Morocco’: a medieval, labyrinthine Medina, distinctive Arabesque architecture, a total assault on the senses. Developed from the ninth century, the city became a major centre of religion, culture and learning at a time when the Islamic world led intellectually. Its monuments reflect this status, with numerous merdersas (religious schools) alongside historic mosques.
Fès may be an extraordinary monument to the past, but it’s also a living and working city. Around 200,000 Fassi still live within the walls of the medieval Medina area of Fès El-Bali. Many of them work here too, in commerce or trades eschewing modern production methods, producing outstanding decorative arts. To explore this warren of narrow passages, teeming souks, huddled housing, archaic industry and venerable mosques is to find oneself in a space where elements of the Middle Ages never came to an end.
Stay at Riad Fes (+212 35 94 76 10, www.riadfes.com).
Marrakech
City
Founded at the confluence of ancient trade routes, Marrakech has always been rooted in the twin activities of hospitality and trade. In its booming 21st-century incarnation, that means two things: chilling out and shopping. Head to the fantastical central square, Jemaa El Fna, for a nightly carnival of local life; north medina for a thriving network of souks and hagglers; and south medina for the Jewish quarter and the glittering remains of the sultan’s palaces and gardens.
Stay at Dar les Cigognes (+212 24 38 27 40, www.lescigognes.com).
Oualidia
Coast
The stretch of azure Atlantic, butterscotch beaches and rugged caramel cliffs between Casablanca and Safi is a haven for wildlife, birds and surfers alike. Oualidia is just one of the unique gems of towns that punctuate the wilderness. Here, a ruined Saadian Kasbah stands sentinel over the ethereal beauty of a crescent-shaped inland lagoon, but the town is most famous for its oysters, which you can sample straight from the water with a dash of sun-kissed lemon. Try a plate of them on ice on the terrace next to the lagoon at eaterie Ostrea, accompanied by a perfect glass of chilled white wine from the Moroccan and French wine list.
Stay at La Sultana (+212 23 36 65 95, www.lasultanaoualidia.com).
Ouarzazate
Desert
Ouarzazate is a town primarily known for its on-screen exploits; Lawrence of Arabia, the Asterix movie and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator were all filmed here. The town is inhabited mainly by Berbers, who built many of the kasbahs characteristic of the area. Venture out of the town into the biblical landscape of the Draa Valley, however, and you find Morocco in the raw, just a hop, skip and a sand buggy away from the Sahara Desert.
Stay at Dar Kamar (+212 24 88 87 33, www.darkamar.com).
Rabat & Salé
City
When it comes to the successful rebranding of a city, look no further than Morocco’s capital Rabat, and Salé, its sister city across the river. Once a breakaway republic, nest of piracy and hub of the trade in captured white slaves, today the twin cities are models of law and order – host to foreign embassies, the Moroccan monarchy and the machinery of government.
Rabat was once a medieval imperial city, and vestiges of this illustrious past remain in the form of city walls and imposing gates built by Sultan Yacoub El-Mansour in the late 12th century. Today, while Rabat is the seat of government, in national life it takes a back seat to the economic powerhouse of Casablanca down the road. The city’s focus on government and away from tourism means visitors can enjoy the sights in a pleasantly low-key fashion: the picturesque kasbah overlooking the Atlantic; the core of the medieval city, and the peaceful beauty of the walled Chellah. In 2009 the city gained the country’s first tram system, linking Rabat and Salé.
Stay at Villa Mandarine (+212 37 75 20 77, www.villamandarine.com).
Tangier
City
Tangier is a city that has changed hands more times than it cares to remember, and African and European sensibilities battle with each other in its jumble of architecture, ancient alleyways and mixture of coastline and Kasbah. The Grande Mosquée and little cafés in the Petit Socco sedately remain much as they did at the early part of the last century, but a visit to the terrace of the port-side Gran Café de Paris (Place de France, Ville Nouvelle, no phone), and one coffee and pastry’s worth of people-watching, leaves you in no doubt that this is a city still very much at the hub of human movement.
Stay at Riad Tanja (+212 39 33 35 38, www.riadtanja.com).
Taza
Rural Idyll
Head off the tourist trail out of Fes, through steep, rolling hills of brown and velvety green, and you come to Taza, a rather isolated provincial town with stunning views of both the Rif and Middle Atlas mountain ranges. Built as a fortress in the 12th century, you can still wander within medieval city walls and enter its original Andalucian mosque. Nearby is Jbel Tazekka National Park, a rambling wilderness home to the largest cave system in North Africa.
Stay at Auberge Ain-sahla (+212 61 89 35 87, www.ainsahla.com).
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Top 10 Places to Visit on a Morocco Tour
Top 10 Places to Visit on a Morocco Tour
Morocco is a modern Muslim country in North Africa. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco, also referred to as the Kingdom of Morocco, has international borders with Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with two small Spanish cities, Ceuta and Melilla), and Mauritania to the south. For Westerners, Morocco holds an immediate and enduring fascination. Since it’s not possible to see everything on the first or even second trip we’ve selected The Top 10 Places Not to Miss when traveling to Morocco which will give you a taste of the country’s highlights: outstanding natural wonders, spectacular cities, history, culture and breathtaking architecture.
Morocco is a modern Muslim country in North Africa. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco, also referred to as the Kingdom of Morocco, has international borders with Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with two small Spanish cities, Ceuta and Melilla), and Mauritania to the south. For Westerners, Morocco holds an immediate and enduring fascination. Since it’s not possible to see everything on the first or even second trip we’ve selected The Top 10 Places Not to Miss when traveling to Morocco which will give you a taste of the country’s highlights: outstanding natural wonders, spectacular cities, history, culture and breathtaking architecture.
DJEMMA EL FNA SQUARE, MARRAKESH
Snake charmers, fortune tellers, monkeys and musicians transform this square into a medieval circus.
Snake charmers, fortune tellers, monkeys and musicians transform this square into a medieval circus.
ERG CHEBBI DUNES, SAHARA DESERT
These mesmerizing sand dunes at the edge of Merzouga are one of Morocco's great sites.
These mesmerizing sand dunes at the edge of Merzouga are one of Morocco's great sites.
CASCADES D'OUZOUD, MARRAKESH-AZILAL
These dramatic waterfalls with cafés and pools to plunge into are set within a lush valley.
MAJORELLE GARDEN, MARRAKESH
A magnificent botanical garden designed by Jacques Majorelle & Yves Saint Laurent.
TODRA GORGE, HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS
These carved out cliff– sided canyons offer spectacular views of the Moroccan countryside.
VOUBILIS, WALILI ROMAN RUINS
A third-century archeological site with the best preserved Roman ruins in Northern Africa.
KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE, MARRAKESH
This twelfth-century minaret is a symbol of Marrakesh, visible for miles around the city.
AIT BENHADDOU, OUARZAZATE
This fortified Kasbah in the Souss-Massa-Draâ Valley is where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed.
KASBAH TAOURIRT, OUARZAZATE
Built by the Glaoui, this is one of the souths most breathtaking Kasbahs.
FES DAR BATHA MUSEUM, FES
This nineteenth-century Hispano-Moorish palace houses a collection of Fes traditional art.
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Top 10 Places to Visit in Morocco
Top 10 Places to Visit in Morocco
Top Destinations Travel Africa Morocco Marrakech FES
When you travel to Morocco the best places to visit include the imperial cities of Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. This is where you find wonderful bazaars, palaces and bustling town squares. Morocco is also famous for its beaches and some of the best seaside towns include Essaouira, Tangier and Asilah. Morocco also has natural beauty. You can hire a camel and trek through the Sahara; climb North Africa's highest peak; or stay in a traditional Kasbah in the fascinating Dades Valley.
1. Marrakech
Situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains, the imperial city of Marrakech is large, noisy, full of history, and beautiful. There's a lot to see and do in Marrakech. Highlights include the central square of Djemma el Fna; the Saadian Tombs, Marjorelle Gardens, and the souqs (bazaars). Staying in a traditional Riad will really enhance your visit to this fascinating city.
More information about Marrakech ....
2. Fes (Fez)
The most complete medieval city of the Arab world, Fes is a strange and appealing mix of middle ages meets the modern world. The extraordinary medina city of Fes El Bali is worth a few days walking in itself. Other highlights include the Merenid tombs, the Royal Palace and the Mellah (Jewish quarter). Fes was Morocco's capital for more than 400 years and is still considered the religious and cultural center of the country.
More travel information about Fes (Fez)...
3. Essaouira
A favorite with independent travellers, Essaouira is a great place to get away from the heat and bustle of the bigger cities. Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley enjoyed the beach scene here in the 1960's. Highlights include strolling through the town's beautiful narrow streets filled with red and blue painted houses, the ramparts, the beach and listening to traditional music of the Gnawas.
More about Essaouira ....
4. Chefchaouen
Situated in the Rif mountains Chefchaouen is a small town in a big landscape. Popular with independent travellers (perhaps because it is the cannabis capital of morocco) but not yet spoilt by them. Highlights include hiking, swimming in streams, sipping a drink on the main square (Outa el Hammam) and enjoying the beauty of the white houses and their brightly painted doors.
More information about Chefchaouen ....
5. Merzouga
Merzouga is a desert town that lies a stone throw away from the impressive Erg Chebbi sand dunes, Morocco's largest dunes. From here you can organize camel treks into the desert and get a little taste of Bedouin life. The landscape around Merzouga evokes the classic images of the Sahara desert and won't disappoint. There are plenty of places to stay to suit all budgets.
More information about Merzouga ...
6. Jebel Toubkal - Trekking the High Atlas Mountains
Jebel Toubkal, situated in the High Atlas Mountains, is North Africa's highest peak at 4,167m (13,667 ft). It's a challenging trek to the summit, but worth it for the spectacular views. While you can make it to the summit and back to the town of Imlil in a day, it's recommended you take at least 3 days to get the most out of it.
7. Meknes
Getty Images/Petr Svarc
Meknes is smaller and a little more laid back than Marrakech and Fez yet this imperial city has similar charms. Highlights include a wonderfully preserved medina filled with souqs which is easy to navigate without a guide. The Imperial City, built by the powerful Moulay Ismail in the 17th Century, is a showcase of Moroccan architecture complete with huge gates and impressive carvings. The nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis are also well worth a trip.
More information about Meknes ....
8. Dades Valley
The Dades Valley runs in between the Jebel Sarhro and the High Atlas Mountains and offers some of Morocco's most spectacular scenery. The deep red cliffs on each side are lined with impressive Kasbahs, traditional Moroccan built forts. The best way to appreciate the valley and its Berber villages is to get out of your car and walk especially when you reach the Todra and Dades Gorges. Several Kasbahs in this region have been turned into hotels.
9. Tangier
Tangier is the gateway to Africa for many travelers. While the city doesn't have quite the charm it did in the 1940's and 1950's when you could rub shoulders with the likes of Truman Capote, Paul Bowles and Tennessee Williams there's still a lot to see. Highlights include the medina, the Kasbah and the Ville Nouvelle. Tangier is well known for its aggressive touts, but persevere and this unique city will grow on you.
More information about Tangier ...
10. Asilah
Asilah is a wonderful beach town on Morocco's North Atlantic coast. Asilah is very popular with Moroccan vacationers who flock to its sandy beaches in the summer months. The city walls are covered in colorful murals and the houses are white-washed making this town look like it could be at home in Greece. A popular cultural festival is held here every summer. Other highlights include the beaches, small shops, the ramparts and medina.
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